How far is Odysseus’s status Essay

end-to-end the Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a Greek hero. However this croupe be belieed. In many events Odysseus house be perceived as un-heroic at times. Therefore the above argu manpowert piece of tail be argued. Throughout this piece of work I result be discussing this statement and I will gradually draw circumferent to a conclusion. Odysseus shows leadership as he produces very clever ideas and performs quick-thinking actions. Throughout the narrative he has planned strategies, for example, every time Odysseus and his men cooking stove an island he ever sends his men first to investigate the surroundings.This quality can be seen as cunning and therefore he can be seen as a hero. His personality can be seen as bump for and scheming. In many periods of the book this can be come ond. He sash calm in situations and when his men die he thinks of them, and when in difficultness he does his best to help them says quote, we travelled with heavy hearts, grieving for t he injustice of our dear friends.. (Book 10 Line 133) Odysseus can be seen as resourceful, for example, he tool the undiluted wine with him when going into the Cyclopss undermine, which past later came into use as it saved his men and himself escape to safety.He is seen as shrewd as he uses a false have-to doe with when speaking with the Cyclops which again later on takes its effect when the men are absconding from the dangers of the Cyclops. Even though Odysseus can be seen as a hero, in some cases he can non be depicted as cunning. For example, he decided to ignore his caboodles suggestion to escape with the nutrition in the Cyclopss cave. Even though he was by rights to do the hospitable and respectable thing to do, by staying in the cave to greet their host, he made the wrong decision as the by staying he risked the lives of his men.Odysseus can be thought of as idle as he blinded Polyphemus with a stake. This could be looked at as un-heroic and wrong, but it can also be seen as him being unfor well-favored for his killed crew. Therefore these different situations can be looked at from two perspectives. He could be seen as hospitable and vengeful, which are true qualities of a hero, or he can be looked at as a violent person who has bad judgement. It all depends on the readers standpoint. Odysseus has a very strong relationship with the Gods, especially with Athenes and Hermes.For example Hermes helped Odysseus by giving him the moly flower. This can be looked at from two angles. Odysseus might seem not so heroic as he needs help from the powers that be, and he might be seen as dependent on the Gods. But this can be argued as wholly some people would think that nevertheless a hero can receive such gifts from the gods and that there has to be something special about him, and also Athene was known for helping heroes which could prove that he was i. Therefore, again, this line of reasoning could be argued. Odysseus and his men have omit trust a nd confidence in their relationships.This reflects badly upon Odysseus as it shows he is not leadership material. For example When Odysseus and his men sailed away from the Island of Aelia, Odysseus had received the gift of the winds. His crew did not trust Odysseus and opened the bag, thinking it was gold, and released the winds. This shows a lack of trust. other example that shows a requirement of confidence in their relationship is when one of Odysseuss men, Eurylochus, says You will never come back yourself and wont rescue a single man of your crew. I am certain(prenominal) of it. Let you get away quickly with those that are left here.(Book 10 Line 268). This shows that his men think that their destiny with Odysseus will lead to death. They feel as if his leadership is endangering them which shows that they do not think of him as a hero and influences the reader to think the same, even though Odysseus tries his best and up most to rescue his men In my opinion, I think that Ody sseus is a heroic figure. This is because in the book he is proved to be cunning, fondness and an important figure. There are many events in the book that contradict this, but they can be argued to whether Odysseus was really in the wrong.For example, he cherished to stay in Polyphemuss cave because he wanted to be hospitable (which is the right thing to do), and he was not aware of the dangers that were at hand. He can be seen as violent, but revenge was his only motivation, when he blinded the Cyclops. Therefore, I think that Odysseus can be categorise under hero, and I think that Odysseuss status throughout the Odyssey all depends on how the reader interprets the events that take place as they always have two aspects to look at.